Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez and Mets first baseman Pete Alonso were named the rookies of the year in the American and National Leagues, respectively. The former was a unanimous choice, while the latter received top placement from all but one of the ROY voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
It’s a power-packed duo, to say the least. While slugging numbers were up around the game, these two still stood out.
Alvarez, 22, didn’t force his way onto a loaded Astros roster until mid-season. But he still swatted 27 long balls in his 369 plate appearances. And his half-season offensive numbers were … well, astronomical. Among players with at least three hundred attempts, he came in a close second in all of baseball in wRC+ (his 178 just lagged Mike Trout) and slugging percentage (.655, just trailing Christian Yelich).
The 24-year-old Alonso did damage all year long, on both sides of a memorable Home Run Derby victory. He appeared in all but one of the Mets’ games, slugging a league-leading 53 dingers while topping the century mark in runs and ribbies. It wasn’t just counting stats; Alonso wrapped up his debut season with an excellent .260/.358/.583 batting line.
The rest of the American League field fell well shy of Alvarez in output. But that’s not to say there weren’t nice performances. Surprise Orioles hurler John Means landed in second place, another nice bit of recognition for one of the least-likely All Stars in the history of baseball. Brandon Lowe of the Rays, Eloy Jimenez of the White Sox, and Cavan Biggio of the Blue Jays finished 3-4-5.
There was certainly stiffer competition on the N.L. side. Third-place finisher Fernando Tatis Jr. may well have commanded the award (or at least forced a photo finish) had his season not been cut short. And the man in second, Braves hurler Mike Soroka, had his own strong claim to the award. He picked up one first-pace vote after turning in 174 2/3 innings of 2.68 ERA pitching — no minor accomplishment in a season filled with the offensive exploits of so many. Pirates standout Bryan Reynolds landed fourth with his own excellent campaign, while Cardinals hurler Dakota Hudson and Nationals outfielder Victor Robles each also received down-ballot votes.
Dodgers may have made the biggest blunder trading yordan for JOSH FIELDS… of all people
They fell victim to one of the classic blunders?
NEVER trust a Sicilian when money is involved!
“Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!” Ahahaha *thud*
The most famous of which is never get involved in a land war in Asia!
What position would he play on the Dodgers?
Probably means that the Dodgers wouldn’t have had to sign Pollock.
Pollock was signed because he filled 2 needs. Center fielder and RH bat. Yordan is neither of those. Pollocks groin kept him from CF at the end of the season but he should be back there next year.
You meant to say he should be back on the DL/Injured List???
Hindsight
Still doesn’t take away that they shouldn’t have traded him. Doesn’t matter if it’s hindsight.
The rumor going around is that the Dodgers signed him for the Astros in a pre-arranged deal. I was skeptical, but then I realized there’s a good question here – can anyone find another IFA prospect who got a multi-million dollar bonus and was traded less than 30 days later? Yordan is the only one that comes to mind.
That seems like it would be illegal.
No DH in NL.
Well earned.
Well juiced.
53 Home Runs as a Rookie. What a joke. A fine player. But baseball has become a joke in a sense. I hope they fix this “baseball” issue they have.
JayRyder, I don’t know what is the worst, the juiced ball, the juiced players or the players on the Theraputic Use Exception,
Cant you just enjoy things
Yeah it’s crazy the MLB only used juiced balls for just 1 player.
Still screws things up when you try to put it in historical perspective. How many would Alonso have hit without a juiced ball? Probably 42-45. Certainly less than Judge did, and Judge benefited from a slightly juiced ball, too.
You people could cry over anything. Every single sport changes over time and makes statistics change with perspective. You have to take into account everything from every era. Ballpark sizes, park locations, bat material, pitching, etc. You are literally talking about a sport where the playing surface has different dimensions in every single ballpark. No other sport has something that changes the game in that way.
Well said.
@Birch
It’s perfectly reasonably not to be a fan of the juiced ball. I’m not a fan of having to remember, in the future, “oh, yeah, but that was 2019… Can’t really compare stats the same way.”
That’s hardly in the category of being one to cry over anything. Good lord…
Not to mention shorter fences at home
And yet here you are…
Every single era has smudges and rules and other things fans don’t like. It’s part of the game. Deal with it.
All this talk of shorter fences, juiced balls, allegedly juiced or stronger players, etc. that is why it only adds to what an amazing job Mike Soroka did this season!!
Obviously, it’s nearly impossible to win the ROY award, when you’re going up against a guy with the counting stats of the ManBeast that is Pete Alonso. Even still, Soroka had an amazing season for a rookie, and was an absolute force on the mound.
Either way, this is a battle that’s going to continue for years to come, so that’s truly the exciting part. We, as fans, are the real winners, and especially fans of the NL East.
For years to come, we are going to get to see the likes of rising stars like Acuña Jr., Albies, Pache, Soroka, Fried, Alonso, McNeil, Robles, Soto, and Kieboom among other up and coming young studs all fighting it out!!
While I agree with your post regarding changes, Birch, many fans were complaining about the juiced ball. Forget about “purists “ and the like. Baseball is one of the greatest strategic games ever invented. Thousands of strikeouts in pursuit of a home run, ruined that aspect of the game for many of us.
What joke: a player is good at baseball. Ok boomer.
You can’t say ok boomer if you are the ultimate boomer yourself.
We need to stop saying boomer and old head and start having respect for elders in this country. Thats why countries like Japan are beginning to surpass us.
Lmao okay boomer
Respect is earned, not automatically granted based on your age. I think by default, respect should be given, but the second you start trashing other people and generations (i.e. boomers taking issue with the way the younger generations live their lives or do things), then you’re open to that criticism. Nobody is entitled to unconditional respect.
respect is earned, not given.
boomers demand respect, while giving none.
countries like japan have passed us because they don’t need a sky daddy telling them how to live their lives, while people like you do.
maybe you guys need to be old yeller’ed and get out of the way, because frankly, you need the younger generation, they don’t need you.
Surpass us in what way?
You’re just showing what a little turd you are, Strike Four. You probably swore at your parents when they told you to eat your vegetables.
This fairly new “Ok Boomer” thing is getting old and tired real fast. Just like this Boomer.
Considering the juiced ball, Soroka had a phenomenal rookie campaign
In the vast majority of years Soroka would have won the award after putting up those type of numbers, but no doubt about it Alonso had a monster year (and being on a NY team probably didn’t hurt).
@JayRyder
It’s too soon to say it’s the juiced ball. Dude was a legit power hitter in the minors. He certainly isn’t the first rookie to post high homer totals their rookie season. Was the ball juiced when McGuire (speaking of juiced) or Judge did it? And he’s far from the leader in homers. 26 others did it. I wouldn’t be shocked if he hit another 45 or more next year. His power is real
I didn’t say anything about his power being non legitimate.
But I think we all know. The Players included. That the ball is different. Anyone choosing not to look in that direction, is only fooling themselves.
@JayRyder
“…53 Home Runs as a Rookie. What a joke.”
My point is his prospect profile indicated prolific power and it’s been done by others so it’s not quite clear that even without the juice, his power was legit. ‘
The average distance among all mlb players was around .400. Alonzo’s average distance was 414. Not exactly wall scrapers.
He hit more juiced HR than anyone else.
@Tom E. Snyder
How in the world would anyone of us know?
Pat Listach and Todd Hollandsworth got robbed
I am still trying to figure out why Eloy Jimenez was not in the top three for American League Rookie of the Year.!!
Probably his .315 OBP and lack of any defensive value.
My grandma could win rookie of the year surrounded by that Astros lineup and their homer-box stadium. Congrats.
Bet you’re a big hit at funerals
RallyShirt I wish the MLB would take that in consideration with guys playing on a team with a stacked line up. At least this is not a big fluke like Bryant winning the NL MVP in 2016.
I find some solace in having a couple more contenders coming up next year. Sorry Eloy, you forever be “dat Boi”
Sounds a bit…insulting?
On White Sox forums, he’s popularly known as Dat Eloi
I still like Dat Boi and Big Cheetah, but those are more my personal nicknames for him.
Almost as flukey as the White Sox 2005 World Series title
Winning 11 of 12 is considered fluky?
@Rallyshirt
.986 OPS in his minor league career spread across all levels and leagues. ..985 OPS away from Houston say “hello”. Dudes’ legit.
I’m checking Yordan’s stats out now, he’s a beast.
If he gets on here, sorry about the grandma thing. Come to Chicago!
Biggio getting some hard earned love. Awesome.
He got more bad strike calls against him than I’ve seen in a while. Held it together all year. Kid has a great eye at the plate and a bright future.
Spot on. He figured it out in September and started raking. Interesting that Vlad was nowhere close in the vote…I am sure that will fuel his off-season workouts, which from what I have heard, are really transforming his body.
I thought he seemed to get rung up on the outside pitch a lot more than any other player as well. This is where I wish we still would’ve had Gibby in the dugout. He would’ve stuck up for him and Biggio probably wouldn’t get called out so much on balls.
@JDGoat
Hey do you know of a site that breaks down the type of strikeout a hitter has? Swinging vs called? I bet that Stanton has more swinging vs called strikes and Judge is the opposite. I ask because I feel a guy with more called strikes is more likely to get the benefit of a call as they get more respect from the umps. Not to mention umps adjusting to his higher strike zone.
“He got more bad strike calls against him than I’ve seen in a while.”
You must not have watched Moncada in 2018.
DUH
Even as a Padres fan I think Alonso deserved it. Take him out of the picture and Tatis is the clear favorite. Juiced ball or not as a rookie 53 bombs is impressive.
Tatis the clear favorite? If you take away Alonso, Soroka would’ve probably been the unanimous pick.
Wonder how many HR’s Alonso would have hit without a juiced ball. 42-45?
Maybe. It’s an outstanding season, juiced ball or not.
Definitely outstanding. Soroka’s season was outstanding with the juiced ball working against him as well.
Biggie in the top five but not Guerrero? Weird. Thought he was robbed of service time in April. A travesty
Biggio had the slightly better season, maybe that made the difference for voters when they were choosing the down-ballot guys.
Apparently “travesty” has become a relative term.
boomers love to exaggerate their fake problems and issues
What do you expect, most of them have had everything handed to them their entire lives and all of their ridiculous gripes placed at the top of the priority list.
Ageist.
@dynamite drop in monty
(boomers had) “everything handed to them their entire lives”
What planet did you grow up on? I mean, on what basis can you categorize all boomers as having had everything handed to them on a silver spoon? Many of us work/worked 60-80 hours a week for a living. How about you, chat-boy? What a lame, idiotic thing to say. You must be like 9 years old.
You should show respect for your elders. One day you’ll be old as well if you love long enough.
He can’t think that far in the future.
What possibly was “handed to us our entire lives?” What ungrateful little human clown shoes millennial are.
Vlad wasn’t good this year. Bichette probably deserved more love and he barely played.
Typical ESPN East Coast bias, On their MLB Home page they “Breaking News”
Mets phenom Pete Alonso wins NL l Rookie of the Year. With a nice big and picture of Alonso
Down below Astro Yordon Alvarez named AL Rookie of the Year. No picture, Nothing. what BS
Just don’t watch it then. Jesus.
I’m NOT watching .Can you read? I said ESPN’s Homepage . Meaning I -N-T-E-R-N-E-T
Crikey
Splitting hairs here, Honk. The point applies. Whining about something the media you CHOOSE [with dozens of alternatives] to WATCH/READ/UTILIZE VISUAL STIMULI TO PROCESS/DOWNLOAD/FEEL IN BRAILE is dumb. Now go get your shinebox.
dynamite drop in monty- having a tough night i see. You should change your name to Mister Crankypants. In the 1960s they called people like you a drag. Change your diaper and go to sleep in mommies basement. Look for a job tomorrow.
Wow you played all the aces from your boomer “insult” notepad i see, pops. Still didn’t manage to hit a nerve or even be remotely close to being correct on any of your assumptions.
What are you, 14?
I’m 38
Congrats to Pete and Yordan! The AL was easy but I feel like Soroka could have easily received a few more first place votes than he did. I agree with Pete winning it though.
Ah yes the “Rookie” Pete Alonso, the man is like 25, that’s not a rookie.
Isn’t a rookie a rookie regardless of age?
yeah he’s 24, but cool story
Age has nothing to do with rookie status. He also played the entire year at age 24 and by the way he is still 24. Is that ok with you now
He could be 35, but if he doesn’t have 130+ MLB at bats, 50 big league innings under his belt, or have spent 45+ days on an MLB 25 man roster in any single previous season, he is still a rookie. Max Stassi, despite making his debut in 2013, didn’t exceed his rookie status until 2018, so if he was good enough in ’18, he could have won Rookie Of The Year.
Ichiro was 27 when he won ROY. You going to call him out as undeserving too?
Yuli Gurriel was a “rookie” in his early 30s.
Satchel Paige was a rookie at 42.
Juiced baseball and the 2.68 era doesn’t get but 1 vote. Sad..
In most years Soroka’s performance would have won it, but Alonso was incredible.
Great rookie season by Yordan but IMO what Means did was more impressive and he should have won.
Both Y. Alvarez and P. Alonso were more than deserving of ROY honors however BOTH should have been unanimous choices..
Remember that Albert Pujols’ rookie season cane with fewer HRs big was the first of eleven straight seasons where he hit .300+, 30+ HRs, 100+ RBIs, and scored 100+ runs. No one has done that before or since.
Alonso’s defense is terrible him being The ROY over Tatista because he played more games is a Joke the got the NL ROY totally wrong Alonzo will be washed up Next year
You seem smart
Wait, shouldn’t it be “AL Rookie of the Year Runner Up” John Means? We had to read “AL Rookie of the Year Runner Up” Miguel Andujar for a year.